Obama vows to build non-differential partnership with Latin American countries

Source: Xinhua | 04-17-2009 08:16

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 16 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of the fifth Summit of the Americas, U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States is committed to build a non-differential partnership with countries in the Latin America.

"There has always been a tradition of concern that the United States has been heavy-handed when it comes to foreign policy in Latin America," said the president on Wednesday in an interview by CNN reporter Juan Carlos Lopez.

"That's not something that just arose during the Bush administration. That's something that dates back to the Monroe Doctrine and a long history of U.S. involvement in Latin America. So the important message I think I have to send is that we live in the 21st century now. Times have changed," said Obama.

"And if we have an attitude of partnership, there are going to be times where countries disagree, but that's not just true between the United States and Latin American countries; between Latin American countries there are disagreements. That's the nature of foreign policy."

"But I think that we can put our foreign policy on a solid footing so that moving forward it's constructive, and ultimately we're making lives better for ordinary people in all countries," the president said, stressing "There's no senior partner or junior partner."

The president will attend the fifth Summit of the Americas scheduled from Friday to Sunday in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago. The summit is viewed by Obama and his administration as an opportunity to reengage with the Latin American countries.

Leaders from 34 countries of America are expected to discuss and make decisions on issues of relevance for the Western hemisphere at the summit, which is themed as "Securing our Citizens Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability."

"The president is committed to building strong and productive partnerships in the hemisphere and believes the summit represents an important step toward achieving this objective," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs at a previous press briefing.

The administration has realized that in recent years the United States has turned its attention elsewhere, has neglected its relationships in this part of the world, Jeffrey Davidow, Obama's adviser on the summit, told reporters in a special press briefing on Monday.

"We see this trip as part of the process of the United States reengaging with this hemisphere. This is not a one-off event," said Davidow.

Editor:Zhang Yun